explore · Strategy, Visioning, Planning · 960–1920 min · 30 to several hundred people · high energy

Appreciative Inquiry Summit

A large planning meeting, usually two to four days, that runs the full Appreciative Inquiry cycle with internal and external stakeholders together. People interview each other about the organisation at its best (Discovery), imagine its future (Dream), write statements about how it should work (Design), and form groups that take the first steps (Destiny).

When to use Appreciative Inquiry Summit

Use when an organisation or community wants to set direction by building on what already works, with everyone affected in the room.

What it solves

Change programmes start from a list of problems, and people defend themselves instead of contributing.

How to run Appreciative Inquiry Summit, step by step

  1. A planning team that represents the system chooses an affirmative topic and invites a cross-section of stakeholders (prep).
  2. Discovery: paired appreciative interviews across stakeholder lines, then table groups pull out the strengths behind the best stories (3-4 hours).
  3. Dream: tables imagine the organisation at its best in the future and present it in a creative form (about 3 hours).
  4. Design: groups write propositions about structures, processes and relationships that would make the dream real (3-4 hours).
  5. Destiny: people join the initiatives they care about and commit to first actions (2-3 hours).
  6. Close in plenary with commitments and the follow-up plan (1 hour).

Materials needed

  • Printed interview guides
  • Tables of eight with flip charts
  • Large wall space for the positive core and dreams
  • Art materials for the Dream presentations

Facilitator tips

  • Mix stakeholders at every table. The value comes from customers, staff and partners hearing each other's best stories.
  • Write the interview guide with care; the questions shape everything that follows.
  • Plan who supports the initiative groups after the summit before it starts.

Common pitfalls

  • Reading 'appreciative' as 'positive only' and shutting down people who name real problems.
  • No follow-up structure, so initiatives fade within weeks.

Variations

  • A one-day mini-summit for a single department, compressing each phase.

Running it online or hybrid

Run interviews in pairs by video call and table work in breakout rooms with a shared board per table. Plenary moments need strong production.

What it produces

A described positive core, shared future images, design propositions and self-selected initiative groups with first actions.

Origin

A large-group format that grew out of David Cooperrider's Appreciative Inquiry at Case Western Reserve University, running the 4-D cycle with the whole system in the room. — source

Build a session around Appreciative Inquiry Summit

METODIC places Appreciative Inquiry Summit inside a complete, timed session plan — agenda, worksheets, facilitator guide and slides — matched to your group and goal.

Generate a session with Appreciative Inquiry Summit · Try METODIC free